Might 18, 2025; Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder middle Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Cason Wallace (22) rejoice a basket in opposition to the Denver Nuggets within the second half throughout recreation seven of the second spherical for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Middle. Necessary Credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Photos The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder had loads of time without work forward of their first two playoff sequence.
Now, within the Western Convention finals in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, it will likely be the Thunder who come into the sequence on quick relaxation whereas their opponent has way more time to get better.
The sequence begins Tuesday in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Thunder are coming off a 125-93 win over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Sunday in Recreation 7 of their second-round sequence.
The Timberwolves have not performed in six days after closing out the Golden State Warriors in 5 video games.
Oklahoma Metropolis had one week between video games earlier than its first-round sequence in opposition to Memphis after which 9 days between video games earlier than the sequence in opposition to the Nuggets.
Within the first spherical, the Thunder opened with a 51-point win over the Grizzlies, however dropped Recreation 1 to Denver after fading late.
Minnesota had a six-day layoff earlier than every of its first two sequence, profitable Recreation 1 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers and dropping Recreation 1 to Golden State. The Timberwolves received every sequence in 5 video games.
The Timberwolves are within the convention finals for the second consecutive season and the third time of their historical past. Minnesota has by no means superior to the NBA Finals.
Oklahoma Metropolis is within the Western Convention finals for the primary time since 2016 and searching for its first finals look since 2012.
The sequence options two of the NBA’s prime defenses, each throughout the common season and within the playoffs.
The Thunder boast a 101.6 defensive ranking — factors allowed per 100 possessions — in 11 playoff video games, greatest this postseason. Minnesota’s 106.8 defensive ranking is second.
It additionally options two of the league’s prime younger stars in Oklahoma Metropolis’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards.
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.0 factors, 6.4 assists and 5.9 rebounds this postseason whereas Edwards is averaging 26.5 factors, 8.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the front-runner for Most Priceless Participant honors, is trying ahead to the matchup in opposition to cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker of Minnesota.
The 2 gamers had been born lower than two months aside in Toronto and each attended Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“It will be very enjoyable,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “It is arduous to even clarify. If you understand how shut we’re, he is actually like my second brother. He is been via each stage of life with me — selecting up a basketball to going to prep college to creating the NBA, we have gone via each state of affairs collectively. For each of us to be the place we’re is particular, to compete in opposition to one another much more particular.
“However I’m attempting to take his head off for certain.”
In a 2023 play-in recreation, Alexander-Walker helped maintain his cousin to a 5-of-19 capturing night time.
Alexander-Walker stated Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency has lifted him to a unique echelon.
“That comes from diligence, arduous work, seeing it first hand and self-discipline that honestly I have never seen in anyone else,” Alexander-Walker stated. “I’ve not seen self-discipline like his. So I feel that is the primary cause why folks assume he is made a soar when actually he is simply been in a position to be persistently that, as a result of he is been so disciplined in his strategy.”
The groups cut up their four-game season sequence and cut up their two video games in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert performed in simply a kind of video games — a New 12 months’s Eve loss — whereas Chet Holmgren appeared in two of the video games for the Thunder.
“Apples to apples, I do not know if these video games are the right framework via which to have a look at the sequence,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “It will be completely different.”
–Area Stage Media
